By: Adam Harrison –
Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent at Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. October 30th, 2012. (Photo: Adam Harrison)
Christmas came early this year for Billy Talent fans, as they were treated to a free show at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern. While the somewhat secret show was announced only 24 hours in advance The Horseshoe Tavern was packed to capacity. The show, a preview to their upcoming tour in support of their latest album, Dead Silence, was definitely worth toughing Hurricane Sandy to witness.
The evening was proved beneficial for the supporting acts that played to a packed house they wouldn’t normally see. Toronto-based Biblical surprised us with their eclectic mix of punk & folk rock. Indian Handcrafts, who were celebrating the release of their new album Civil Disobedience For Losers, followed them and are easily compared to Death From Above 1979, with their hard-hitting drums and manic, fast-paced guitar riffs. The only issue was trying to make out any intelligible vocals from singer/guitarist Daniel Brandon Allen.
Ian D’Sa of Billy Talent at Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. October 30th, 2012. (Photo: Adam Harrison)
The Shoe turned upside down for Billy Talent as soon as they took the stage. The boys from Mississauga opened the non-stop mosh-fest with the first single from Dead Silence, “Viking Death March,” which is as heavy as the title suggests. It also describes the actions the fans took as they rushed the stage from the very first note, which turned the sweat-soaked Shoe into an over-crowded sauna filled with rowdy college students. However, no one was willing to let a bit (or a lot) of perspiration ruin a good time. The little amount of floor space didn’t stop fans from crowd surfing right onto the stage. One girl even decided to dive from a high table into the mob of punk rockers. The band themselves were nearly bouncing off the walls with energy; most noticeably singer, Ben Kowalewicz, and guitarist, Ian D’Sa.
Dead Silence has been well received, in Canada especially, and is probably their fullest album since their self-titled debut in 2003. One would only expect that a free promo show would be used as a tool to plug the new album. But to the fans’ delight, we were not only treated to a good selection of new songs, but also some Billy Talent classics from their second and third album as well. The biggest reaction of the evening came during their encore, which consisted of “Fallen Leaves,” their latest single “Surprise Surprise,” and the traditional set closer “Red Flag.”
Billy Talent thanked their hometown fans by throwing them a free and intimate show. In return, they were shown a lot of love. “I’ve got a secret to tell you,” Kowalewicz said, “We’ll be back in March!” However, something makes me think we’ll be paying for that one.
Billy Talent Set-List
Viking Death March
Devil in a midnight Mass
This Suffering
Love Was Still Around
Rusted From The Rain
Veronika
Surrender
Runnin’ Across The Tracks
Diamond On a Landmine
Stand up and Run
Man Alive
Devil on my Shoulder
Encore:
Fallen Leaves
Surprise Surprise
Red Flag
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